Light, tangy, and crispy, Air Fryer Fried Pickles are healthier than the restaurant version. Serve them up with a side of ranch and some juicy burgers for a fun date night or family meal!
Crispy, Tangy Fried Pickles with No Mess!
Air fryers are such a game changer, you guys. I still can’t get over how easy it is to make truly crispy “fried” foods like onion rings, potato wedges, and chips in there. You can even make sweet recipes like Air Fryer French Toast Sticks and Air Fryer Donuts! And because air fryers only need a tiny bit of oil to work, there’s no standing over a pot of hot grease, and no spatters to wipe up afterward. Is this the biggest win for kitchen gadgets ever?
Which brings me to this winning recipe for air fryer fried pickles. This beloved appetizer used to be something most of us would only order out, because who has the time to make them at home? But with your air fryer and this simple tutorial, restaurant-quality fried pickles are easy to whip up, and fast. Say hello to your new crunchy, salty, tangy, favorite dish!
If you are pickle obsessed, you will also love this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad and Dill Pickle Chicken!
Ingredients
Sliced dill pickles are the star of this show – also known as “dill pickle chips.” You can also use the larger sandwich-sliced pickles. Here is the list of ingredients in more detail. (And if you need the full recipe card with amounts and nutrition info, it’s at the bottom of this post.)
- Dill Pickles: Make sure to drain them well,
- Flour: Plain all-purpose flour is the base of the breading mixture.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. I also use a little cayenne pepper, but you can leave it out if you prefer.
- Ranch Dressing: Optional, for dipping. Other dressings are yummy, too.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Pickles
The cooking method here couldn’t be easier, from the uncomplicated breading to the quick cooking time. Let’s take a closer look.
- Preheat the Air Fryer and Prep the Pickles. While you don’t always have to preheat the air fryer, I find that it gives the best results if you do. To make these pickles, I definitely recommend beginning with a quick preheat to 400°F. In the meantime, drain the pickles on a plate lined with paper towels, to soak up the excess juices and brine.
- Coat the Pickles in the Breading Mixture. Make the breading mixture by combining the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, paprika, and cayenne powder together in a shallow bowl. Whisk the ingredients gently to mix them, and then toss about 15 pickle slices in the flour mixture at a time. Shake off the excess flour.
- Load the Air Fryer Basket. Spray your air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray to keep the pickles from sticking. Add the pickle slices, spacing them evenly so the air can circulate. Spray the tops of the pickles with more cooking spray.
- Air-Fry the Pickles! Air-fry the breaded, sprayed pickles for 5 minutes. Then flip them over, spray again, and air-fry for another 5 minutes or so, to get them golden-brown and crispy.
- Repeat. Bread and air-fry the rest of the pickles the same way.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately, with ranch if desired.
Recipe Notes
Before you start breading and frying, I hope you’ll take a second to read over these quick recipe tips and tricks. Enjoy!
- No Crowding: Be careful not to crowd the air fryer basket. The pickles should be in a single layer, evenly spaced, or they will steam and turn out soggy instead of crispy.
- Avoid Aerosol: A little nonstick spray is crucial to getting that golden-brown exterior on your pickles, but be cautious with the spray you use. Aerosol-powered cooking spray has been known to damage the finish on air fryers over time. I use 100% olive oil nonstick spray.
- Drain Well: Make sure to drain the excess juice from the pickles before you put them in the flour mixture, or they will be soggy.
- Mustard Variation: If you want a slightly different flavor, try tossing the pickles in a small amount of mustard before coating them in the flour mixture. Yum!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Serve these with all of your favorite pub-style foods! From hot dogs and hamburgers to wings and fries, you really can’t go wrong. Here are a few easy, family-friendly recipes to get you inspired:
- Barbecue: The tangy crunch of a fried pickle is great alongside your favorite barbecue recipe. For a simple weeknight meal that will bring smiles to your family’s faces, try this crave-worthy recipe for Easy BBQ Oven Pulled Chicken.
- Wings: Another easy favorite, hot wings are awesome with fried pickles! These Honey Butter Hot Wings in the Air Fryer are a sweet and sticky twist on the classic.
- Sloppy Joes: If your family enjoys Sloppy Joes like mine does, you can probably already see how adding a side of fried pickles will make you the chef of the century… at least in their eyes! And it’s so easy to do.
Storing and Reheating
These pickles are best served fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To keep their texture, I recommend reheating them in your air fryer. You could also do them in the oven. Either way, cook them at 350°F for 5 minutes, or until crispy.
Can I Freeze These?
Actually, yes, you can freeze air fryer fried pickles. There are two ways to do this: after frying, or before frying. Here’s how:
- Flash Freeze: Arrange the pickles (either breaded and un-fried, or fried and cooled) on a baking sheet. Place them in the freezer until they are frozen solid.
- Store: Once the pickles are frozen solid, place them in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Air-Fry: When you’re ready to cook or reheat them, air-fry them directly from frozen. You may need to add an extra minute or two to the time as needed to get them crispy and hot all the way through.
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Ingredients
- 1 32 ounce jar sliced dill pickles, drained
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Ranch dressing, optional, for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- In the meantime, drain the pickles on a plate lined with a paper towel, to soak up the excess juice.
- Whisk the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, paprika, and cayenne powder together in a shallow bowl.
- Toss 15 pickle slices in the flour mixture at a time, and then shake off the excess.
- Spray your air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray, and layer the pickles into the basket. Space them evenly so the air can circulate.
- Spray the tops of the pickles with more cooking spray, and air-fry for 5 minutes.
- Flip the pickles over, spray them with cooking spray again, and air-fry for 4 – 5 more minutes, or until golden-brown.
- Repeat this process with the remaining pickles.
- Serve immediately, with ranch if desired.
Notes
- Do not crowd the air fryer basket. The pickles should be in a single layer, evenly spaced, or they will not be crispy and golden-brown.
- I use 100% olive oil nonstick spray. It’s important to spray them if you want them to brown.
- Make sure to drain the excess juice from the pickles before you put them in the flour mixture, or they will be soggy.
- If you want a slightly different flavor, try tossing the pickles in a small amount of mustard before coating them in the flour mixture.
- These pickles are best served fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in your air fryer or in the oven at 350°F for 5 minutes, or until crispy.
Nutrition
Categories:
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Salmon (Under 10 Minutes!)
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
- Air Fryer Oreos
- Air Fryer Green Beans
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